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There’s no one (or right!) way to use Korean skin care. Despite the popularity of the 10-step Korean skin-care routine, you don’t need to go all-out every night to reap the benefits.
“While some still adhere to [the 10-step routine], many prefer a more streamlined approach with three to five products, focusing on functionality and efficacy,” Cho explains. The three basic steps remain the same: cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF (during the day). If you’re unsure how to build your skin-care routine\u2014using Korean products or otherwise\u2014start with the fundamentals before adding the good-to-have steps, like toner and serum.<\/p>\n
A huge benefit of Korean skin care is that many products are formulated to be multifunctional, combining steps while saving you time and money. Laneige’s Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer, an Allure<\/em> Best of Beauty Award winner, is one such example. This milky formula soothes and softens skin post-cleanse while locking in moisture, thanks to peptides and ceramides.<\/p>\n The landscape of the Korean skin-care industry changes by what feels like the day\u2014which is to say, the list of trending ingredients and treatments changes rapidly. However, Cho calls out PDRN (short for polydeoxyribonucleotide), a DNA chain extracted from salmon “that is a 95% match to that of humans,” as we previously reported. “PDRN has captured attention across pharmaceutical, medical, and cosmetic industries in South Korea,” Cho notes. While she says it’s “lauded for its tissue regeneration properties and is a popular cosmeceutical injection,” you can find it in some topical products, such as Iope’s PDRN Caffeine Shot Serum. What’s more: “The emergence of vegan PDRN, extracted from wild ginseng, caters to the growing demand for plant-based and cruelty-free skin-care options,” Cho adds.<\/p>\n Microneedling treatments, which utilize fine needles to puncture the skin, are also big in South Korea because they “stimulate natural healing and collagen production,” Cho explains.<\/p>\n Korean skin-care brands are most readily available on Amazon, so, as with anything else you buy on the site, you need to do your due diligence surrounding retailers and sellers. Amazon stock, pricing, and listed sellers can be volatile, so at Allure<\/em>, we don’t include any products that are not sold by either Amazon or the brand itself at the time of writing. (Bear in mind: The “seller” is sometimes listed as the parent company. For example, Dear Klairs products are sold by Wishtrend.) There are other options, of course. Soko Glam is a stateside e-retailer that meticulously curates its selection, and then there are Asia-based retailers such as Yesstyle and Olive Young that will most likely take longer to ship.<\/p>\n Amazon or not, one big exception to this online shopping discourse is Korean sunscreens. “The reality is that [many sunscreens from popular brands such as] Beauty of Joseon and Round Lab are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is why they’re not sold on Soko Glam\u2014since we import [our products] into the U.S. and have to go through FDA checks,” Cho explains. “I caution people buying off of Amazon, as it is rife with counterfeit products since Amazon U.S. would not be able to sell these either (it’s a matter of import).” Take heed!<\/p>\n When Allure<\/em> tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that\u2019s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.<\/p>\n For our list of the best Korean skin-care products, we considered each product\u2019s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors\u2014along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.<\/p>\n A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure<\/em> wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors\u2014in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon\u2014is essential to reaching that goal.<\/p>\n After all, can we really<\/em> say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we\u2019ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it\u2019s never been tested on curls? We\u2019re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat are some trending ingredients and treatments in Korean skin care?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Can I trust buying Korean skin-care products online?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Meet the experts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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How we test and review products<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Our staff and testers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n